The Lamar Building

Twelve hours in a car with Renegadeoffunk and Freemont, enough to drive anyone mad. Renegade and I had decided in a literal 5 minute conversation that we would be making 2,500mi round trip excursion over the random 4 consecutive days I had off from work. I was very excited to see my old friend JC, whom we were going to be meeting up with. JC had told us that he was was very friendly with a few of the staff at the “Lamar Building” in Augusta, GA and was getting us access to the entire building. Permission we thought; whats this?

The Lamar building was partially used for offices, but held a secret on the 19/20th floors; there was an abandoned penthouse. From talks with the interior designer, he informed us that the penthouse was added to the building years ago as an office and one room apartment for a senator of the state.

It was complete with a 360 degree view and a glass ceiling. The original desk was still there along with shelves filled with china for entertaining political guests. Behind the 6ft. rear-projection TV was the ladder to the roof. The highest point in Augusta was only one and a half stories farther up! JC threw open the hatch, and the hot sun and dry southern heat swept in. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the brightness, but I raised myself over the corner of the concrete summit and was able to gaze over the small city.

No sooner than I was starting to enjoy the view, did JC explain to us the fact that we were in the middle of a large mud wasp nest, so “Watch out.” Not trying to be the victim of a painful encounter I minded my movements. The roof wasn’t all that large, but was home to several antennas that JC had no problem explaining their uses and company histories.

Once the heat was too great, and my eyes were hurting too much, I descended the ladder. Back through the senators office and down one more floor. This was the old apartment. Still fully furnished, with the bed made, spotless marble bathroom, & scotch on the bookshelf; it was a classy place indeed.

The porch also added a grand view with room for entertaining. The designer had told a story of how there was a barbecue on the balcony and somewhere in the order of 18 firetrucks responded to the grill’s smoke.

The final picture I leave you with was from the elevator room. This building’s elevators were still functioning on vacuum tube technology. When any of the hail buttons were pushed, a fury of switches would pop and vacuum tubes would be set aglow. A surreal experience in the dark…